More red, more art, more lighting, more bike lanes and more vegetation are coming to the Connective Corridor.

Planners this week began describing the sequencing for the next phase of Connective Corridor work, some of which – tree cutting specifically -- will begin very soon.

The Connective Corridor project is the design initiative between Syracuse University and the city of Syracuse that aims to strengthen the connection between the two places. The first $50 million phase, completed last year, extends along University Avenue to East Genesee Street and Forman Park.

Work last fall along East Genesee Street, for the Connective Corridor between Syracuse University and downtown Syracuse, NY. Dick Blume

Design particulars for the next phase are still being completed. Construction could begin late this summer, said Owen Kerney, the city’s deputy director of planning and sustainability. He expects most of the work to be performed in 2014 and the project to be finished in 2015.

Business and property owners at the meeting raised concerns about maintenance and pedestrian debris: crows roosting in downtown parks, dog owners not picking up after their pets, city snow removal especially under railroad bridges, and human defecation in gardens and doorways.

Kerney said the city had no plans to install public restrooms, and hoped that having more people downtown would reduce such issues or move them to the city's margins.

The next $15 million phase essentially extends many Phase 1 features further west along Fayette and Jefferson streets, and south along State and Montgomery streets. Most of the money - $10 million, comes from a federal Department of Transportation grant awarded to the city in 2011. The county is chipping in $1 million for ‘Save the Rain’ green infrastructure. The city and foundations will pay roughly $4 million.

The project was originally designed in three phases. The most recent federal funding pays for phases 2 and 3 together.

It’s a comprehensive and potentially disruptive project, extending along streets from building face to building face. Building owners along the corridor route can apply for funding for façade and lighting improvements.

All corridor signage, benches and lighting are painted red.

Nearly all the 95 trees growing along the route will be cut before March, said Steve Harris, city arborist. That timeline is needed to comply with federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The EPA considers the trees potential habitat for the Indiana bat, an endangered species. Such habitats can’t be cut during nesting season, so all the trees have to be cut before March.

New trees will be planted, in boxes with bigger space for roots, Harris said.

Interactive features similar to the “singing sidewalk’ in front of Syracuse Stage will be placed along the Civic Strip, the north south area running from City Hall to the Oncenter.

Key buildings along the corridor, such as St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Armory, at the end of Jefferson Street, will be lit from the outside to brighten the corridor, said Linda Hartsock, director of Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement and Economic Development.

Hartsock also asked attendees for their ideas for events, programming and features to help attract people downtown.

“We have students who are ready to work with businesses on special projects,” she said. “What do you want to see happen?"